Congaree (horse)

Last updated
Congaree
Sire Arazi
Grandsire Blushing Groom
DamMari's Sheba
DamsireMari's Book
Sex Stallion
FoaledApril 20, 1998
DiedNovember 22, 2020 (aged 22)
Country United States
Colour Chestnut
Breeder Stonerside Stable
Owner Stonerside Stable
Trainer Bob Baffert
Record25: 12-2-4
Earnings$3,267,490
Major wins
Swaps Stakes (2001)
Wood Memorial Stakes (2001)
Cigar Mile Handicap (2002 & 2003)
Del Mar Breeders' Cup Handicap (2002)
Lone Star Park Handicap (2002)
Carter Handicap (2003)
Hollywood Gold Cup (2003)
San Antonio Handicap (2003)
San Pasqual Handicap (2003)
3rd Kentucky Derby (2001)
3rd Preakness Stakes (2001)

Congaree (April 20, 1998 - November 22, 2020) was an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. A multiple Grade I winner and earner of over $3,000,000, Congaree finished third in both the 2001 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes.

Contents

Background

Out of the mare Mari's Sheba, a granddaughter of Northern Dancer, his sire was Arazi, the 1991 European Horse of the Year. Mari's Sheba was Gr.I placed during her racing career, finishing third in the 1995 Santa Anita Oaks. [1] [2]

Mari's Sheba also produced Sangaree, a half-brother to Congaree, who was sired by Awesome Again. [3] She also produced Golden Sheba, a filly by Coronado's Quest, who went on to produce multiple Gr.I winning filly Wedding Toast. [4]

Racing career

Trained by future U.S. Racing Hall of Fame inductee, Bob Baffert, Congaree won the April 2001 Wood Memorial Stakes over Monarchos, then finished third behind that rival in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby while setting a record for the fastest opening mile in Derby history. [5] [6] He also finished third in the Preakness Stakes and did not compete in the 1½ mile Belmont Stakes, opting instead to return to his California home base, where he won the Gr.1 Swaps Stakes at Hollywood Park before returning East for a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. [7]

Congaree went on to race very successfully at age four and five, becoming the first horse to win the Grade 1 Cigar Mile Handicap in consecutive years. His time for the 2002 Cigar Mile of 1:33.11 was the fastest mile run in North America in 2002. Starting in 22 consecutive graded stakes races, Congaree won ten graded stakes (including five Grade 1 races) and was an Eclipse Award finalist as Champion Sprinter, Champion Older Male and Horse of the Year. [8] [9]

In 2004, ate age six, Congaree retired after finishing fourth in the Churchill Downs Handicap. He retired with a record of 25: 12-2-4 and earnings of $3,267,490. [10]

Stud career

The stallion began his stud career stood in 2005 at Frank Stronach's Adena Springs in Midway, Kentucky. Adena Springs later moved operations to Paris, Kentucky, where Congaree stood through the 2009 breeding season. Beginning in 2010, Congaree stood at stud at Highcliff Farm in Delanson, New York. In 2013, Congaree was again moved to stand at Mill Creek Farm in New York, where he stayed until Lane's End Farm acquired him to stand at their Texas operation. When Lane's End Texas closed in 2017, Congaree was moved to stand at Valor Farm, also in Texas. [11] [12] [13]

He was owned by Robert and Janice McNair, who bred and raced him in the name of their Stonerside Stable. After selling their Stonerside Stable property in Paris, Kentucky along with the majority of their bloodstock in October 2008, the McNairs began using the stable name Magnolia Racing Stable for their Thoroughbred holdings, which include Congaree, Cowboy Cal, Bob and John, and Stonesider.

Congaree was euthanized on November 22, 2020, due to the infirmities of old age. [14]

Progeny

Congaree has met with success as a stallion, siring eight stakes winners from his first two crops to race, including multiple Gr.1 winner Jeranimo and multiple Gr. III winner Mythical Power. He has also found international success, siring Irish Gr.III winning mare Maoineach. [15]

Congaree's progeny includes: [16] [ citation needed ]

Related Research Articles

Mr. Prospector American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Mr. Prospector was a Thoroughbred racehorse who became an outstanding breeding stallion and notable sire of sires. A sprinter whose career was cut short by repeated injuries, he won seven of his 14 starts, including the Gravesend Handicap at Aqueduct Racetrack and the Whirlaway Handicap at Garden State Park.

Flower Alley is an American Thoroughbred racehorse and sire. Winner of the Travers Stakes during his racing career, he is best known as the sire of 2012 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner I'll Have Another.

Tiznow American Thoroughbred racehorse

Tiznow is an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for his wins in the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2000 and 2001, becoming the only horse to win this race twice. He was the 2000 American Horse of the Year and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2009.

Roses In May is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won 8 of his 13 races, including the 2005 Dubai World Cup, and earnt $5,490,187.

A.P. Indy American Thoroughbred racehorse

A.P. Indy was an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Belmont Stakes and Breeders' Cup Classic on his way to American Horse of the Year honors in 1992. His time in the Belmont Stakes tied Easy Goer for the second-fastest running in the history of the race, behind his damsire Secretariat.

Forward Pass was an American Thoroughbred Champion racehorse who was the first horse in the history of the Kentucky Derby to have been declared the winner as the result of a disqualification.

Round Pond is a retired American Thoroughbred racehorse. A two-time Eclipse Award finalist, she is best known for winning the 2006 Breeders' Cup Distaff.

Halfbridled is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who was the 2003 American Champion Two-Year-Old Filly.

Seeking The Gold was an American thoroughbred racehorse and a successful sire.

Unbridled's Song was an American thoroughbred racehorse who won the Breeders' Cup Juvenile, Florida Derby and Wood Memorial. He was the favorite for the 1996 Kentucky Derby but suffered a cracked hoof in the weeks before the race and finished fifth. He finished his racing career with five wins from twelve starts and earnings of $1.3 million. He subsequently became a highly successful sire, with major winners including Breeders' Cup champions Arrogate, Forever Unbridled, Midshipman and Liam's Map. He also sired the filly Eight Belles who came second in the Kentucky Derby. He was posthumously the leading sire in North America of 2017.

Ballindaggin was an American Thoroughbred racehorse best known for having defeated Fourstardave and Regal Classic.

Winslow Homer is an American thoroughbred racehorse best known for winning the 2010 Holy Bull Stakes.

Fleet Indian was an American Champion Thoroughbred racehorse. She was named American Champion Older Female Horse at the 2006 Eclipse Awards, an honor she is best known for.

War Front (horse) American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

War Front is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. In 2006 he won the Alfred G. Vanderbilt Handicap and finished second in the Forego Handicap and Vosburgh Stakes. Since retiring from racing he has become one of the most expensive sires in the world. His offspring include Declaration of War, The Factor, Roly Poly, U S Navy Flag, Omaha Beach and War of Will.

Pants On Fire is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. A seven-time stakes winner, his biggest win came in the 2011 Louisiana Derby.

Malibu Moon was a Thoroughbred stallion bred in Kentucky. Retired young to stud following a racing injury as a two-year-old, Malibu Moon thereafter sired multiple grade I stakes winners, two Eclipse Award winners, and was the sire of Orb, winner of the 2013 Kentucky Derby.

Gunnevera American-bred Thoroughbred racehorse

Gunnevera is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. Orphaned from an early age, he became the leading juvenile earner from the first crop of Dialed In. He was a contender on the 2017 Road to the Kentucky Derby, winning the Delta Downs Jackpot Stakes as a two-year-old and the Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park during his three-year-old season. Given a layoff after finishing seventh in the Derby and fifth in the Preakness Stakes, he returned in August to win the Tangelo Stakes before finishing second in the Travers Stakes.

Dialed In is an American Thoroughbred racehorse. He won the 2011 Florida Derby and Holy Bull Stakes, before finishing 8th in the Kentucky Derby. He is also the sire of multiple graded stakes winner Gunnevera.

Northern Afleet was an American thoroughbred racehorse and sire. He is best known as the sire of dual Triple Crown Classic winner Afleet Alex and Breeders' Cup winners World Approval and Amazombie

Prospect Point was one of the longest lived Thoroughbred on record. He lived to the age of 38 years and 203 days before dying on 23 September 2016.

References

  1. Michelson, Miles. "Congaree Horse Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  2. Michelson, Miles. "Maris Sheba Horse Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  3. Michelson, Miles. "Sangaree Horse Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  4. Michelson, Miles. "Wedding Toast Horse Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  5. Equibase.com. "Equibase | Profiles". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  6. "Monarchos Wins Kentucky Derby!". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  7. Equibase.com. "Equibase | Profiles". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  8. Equibase.com. "Equibase | Profiles". www.equibase.com. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  9. "2002 Eclipse Award Winners". www.horse-races.net. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  10. "Congaree retired at 6; stud plans undecided | Daily Racing Form". www.drf.com. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  11. Michelson, Miles. "Congaree Horse Pedigree". www.pedigreequery.com. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  12. "Lane's End Texas Closes, Stallions Relocate". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  13. "Congaree to Stud at Adena Springs Kentucky". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  14. Van Camp, Vicky (December 7, 2020). "Multiple Grade 1 Winner And Sire Congaree Dead At 22". Blood-Horse. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  15. "Congaree | Progeny | Racing Post". Racing Post. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  16. "Congaree on Stallion Register Online". Stallion Register Online. Retrieved 2017-10-18.